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Athetoid Cerebral Palsy-A Type of Cerebral Palsy What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders that affect normal coordinated movement. It is a permanent physical disability and is non progressive. Cerebral palsy patients have limited movements, speech and learning disabilities. Cerebral palsy may affect an infant in the womb, during or after birth. Damage to the brain's motor areas disrupts its normal ability to control and co-ordinate movements. This condition is characterized by weakness,
paralysis and motor dysfunction.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
There are three types of cerebral palsy. Some individuals can be affected by one or all of them. Spastic Palsy is the most common type. It is characterized by stiff, jerky and difficult movements. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy causes low muscle tone and poor co-ordination of movements. Children with this type of cerebral palsy appear unsteady and shaky. Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is characterized by involuntary, purposeless actions. Mixed Cerebral Palsy features the stiff and tight muscle tone of the Spastic type and the involuntary movements of the Athetoid type.
Distinguishing features of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
Athetoid cerebral palsy occurs due to extensive damage to the cerebellum or the basal ganglia. Around 10 percent of children suffering from cerebral palsy have this type. It is also known as Dyskinetic cerebral palsy. The cerebellum and basal ganglia are responsible for processing signals that bring about smooth, coordinated movements and control proper posture. Damage to these crucial areas leads to involuntary and purposeless actions, especially in the arms and legs. These involuntary movements interfere with speaking, eating and other voluntary, coordinated movements. Involuntary grimacing, problems in swallowing, slurred speech and drooling characterize a child suffering from Athetoid cerebral palsy. These movements increase during periods of emotional stress and disappear during sleep. Such children have low muscle tone and have difficulty in maintaining correct posture and for sitting and walking. The arms and legs of children suffering from this type of cerebral palsy flutter and move uncontrollably. Patients may have difficulty coordinating muscle movements needed for speech. This condition is referred to as Dysarthria.
Athetoid cerebral palsy can be treated like the other types, by therapy. Speech and physical therapy helps patients lead a normal life.
Cause of Cerebral Palsy
In approximately 70 percent of cases, cerebral palsy results from events occurring before birth that can disrupt the normal development of the brain. A small number of children also develop brain injuries in the first months or years of life that...
Cerebral Palsy- Its Effect on Adults
The term cerebral palsy refers to a condition affecting the body movements of the people due to lack of supply of oxygen to it. The term Cerebral refers to the two hemispheres of the brain and Palsy refers to the disorder that is caused due to the...
Mild Cerebral palsy - 'Leading a Normal Life.'
The Misery Toll: Mild cerebral palsy could also be called the 'chronic childhood disability'. It occurs in 1.4 to 2.7% of the childbirths. The premature babies are more susceptible to this malfunction. This grabs them twenty five times more...
Cerebral Palsy Therapy
Although many therapies are available for treating cerebral palsy, here is a brief overview of few of the most basic approaches to the therapies used to help a child achieve his optimum level of functioning. Aquatic Therapy: Aquatic...
Cerebral Palsy Surgery
Surgery for cerebral palsy is used to treat tight muscles and spasticity related to cerebral palsy. An incision is made in the skin over the affected muscle and parts of the muscle are then cut to release the tightness. After-effects of...
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